Improvement in stocking-protectors



C. P. LANGFORD Stocking-Protector.

Nd.197,868. Patented Dec. 4,1877.

fTTEsT: INVENTORI flaw 5. PETERS, PHOTOUTHOGHAPHER, WASH NGTON D C UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. LANGFORD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKlNG-PROTECTO RS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,868, dated December 4, 1877; application filed 7 January 31, 1877.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. LANGFORD, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of 'New York, have invented a new and useful Knee-Cap for Protecting Ghildrens Stockings from becoming worn or soiled at the Knees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the diagram and letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a protector to apply to the knee. to preserve this part of the stocking from wear or soiling; and it consists of a tube of silk, woolen, or other suitable material, knitted in one piece, and adapted to closely embrace the limb above and below the knee, in order to retain the protector in proper position, and also to provide ventilation about the knee-j oint.

The diagram represents a view of the protector.

B is one of the ribbed ends, and A the intermediate or enlarged portion.

The protector is made of silk, woolen, or

other suitable material, and, in the present.

instance, is formed by knitting in one piece in tubular form. The ends are knitted in ribs. One end, if desired, may be made larger in circumference than the other, and the intermediate portion A is knitted plain and made larger in circumference than the ends. The increased size of the upper end of the protector aflbrds increased elasticity at the point Where it is most needed, for the upper end of the protector will be subjected to greater distension when the knee is bent than the lower end, and also will conform to the increased size of the limb above the knee.

The increased size of the intermediate portion of the protector affords sufficient room to the knee-joint, and prevents undue heating and pressure at this point.

The protectors being made with ribbed ends gives them sufficient elasticity to admit of being easily drawn over the foot, and should have the property of contracting sufficiently to closely embrace the limb above and below the knee, for the retention of the protector in its proper position.

The protector, being in the form of a tube, admits of being adjusted over the knee in a manner to present a new surface for wear at the knee-cap each time it is used until tlre entire circumference is worn, thus seeming uniformity in the wear and making a great saving in the consumption.

After the stocking is upon the limb the protector is adjusted by drawing it on over the stocking until the middle or enlarged part covers the knee-joint, when the ribbed ends will closely embrace the limb above and below the knee, thereby keeping the protector in proper position over the knee of the stocking without the aid of any other device. The ribs also give additional strength to the ends, and prevent them from rolling.

1 am. aware that kneecaps have been made of rubber and like fabrics. Such I do not claim 5 but What I claim is As a new article of manufacture, a kneeprotector, consisting of a tube of textile material, with ribbed ends and intermediate portion made larger in circumference than the ends, as herein set forth and described.

CHARLES F. LANGFORD.

Witnesses:

JAMES W. SANDS, J osEPH WELLS. 

